197. Fear Can Cause Depression

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

Many people know exactly what they want to do and who they want to be. Often it is their fears that prevent them from following their internal compass. While fear may be related to many of the other forces that drive a person off track, such as fear of losing their security, it can also be much broader in nature. Lappé and Perkins, the authors of You Have the Power: Choosing Courage in a Culture of Fear, argue that our entire culture is steeped in fear. From simply fearing doing something new or different than you have never done before to businesses that market their products by making you aware of everything you could to lose and all the things that can go wrong such as insurance companies whose ads warn of all the hazards of life without an umbrella policy. Even the news and film industry often focus on tragic, horrific events. It can be hard to trust your own voice when there are so many voices in the media telling you how scary life can be.

Very often, fear prevents people from finding and fulfilling their God given dreams. A life driven by fear and spent avoiding that which is feared can get profoundly off track as the person loses connection with everything except their efforts to avoid the feared events. This very easily can lead to depression because people who are not pursuing their dreams live in a state of constant unfulfillment.

Another way fear causes depression is through the constant barrage of negative thoughts and emotions that accompany fear. Over time this onslaught will overwhelm a person’s heart and leads to depression. Because, you weren’t created to fear and you aren’t designed to carry that kind of load. Thankfully, Proverbs 12:25 tells us an answer for depression caused by fear and worry. A GOOD WORD!

The good Word of God applied by faith is what makes the hearts of those weary and heavy laden glad. The good Word, particularly the Gospel of Jesus brings relief and freedom from depression and the anxiety that leads to it. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus urges all burdened to come to him for rest. And 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast the things that weigh us down on the Lord.

Jesus came to set us free from every bondage. He has delivered us from the spirit of bondage that binds us in fear (Romans 8:15). This includes all the effects that fear has, including depression. Apply and keep applying the GOOD Word of God in your life, pursue your God given dreams, stay in the His presence and cast your burdens on Him. FEAR NOT!

Matthew 11:28 NKJV Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

1 Peter 5:7 NKJV casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.